Tiger Leaping Gorge

We got up at 9ish and checked out. We had arranged to leave our bags at another hostel (Kevin's) as we were going to stay there. Kevin offered western toilets, movies and a pool table. Even if the pool table wasn't flat, was at an angle and didn't have any round balls it was too much to turn down.

A load of corn at the Naxi Family Guesthouse

We got a quick breakfast and a taxi to the bus station. Ten minutes later we were on a bus to Qiaotou. Shortly after leaving Zhongdian the bus driver got a call on his mobile so he pulled over, got out off the bus and proceeded to have a fifteen minute conversation. The rest of bus sat as this was normal.

A pile of food at the Naxi Family Guesthouse

We arrived at 2pm and headed straight for Tiger Leaping Gorge. Surprising there was no sign showing the start of the path. We walked straight past it. Luckily a bus driver stopped and pointed us up the hill. We rejoined the path and after two hours reached The Naxi Family Guesthouse in Nuoyu Village. The plan was to stop here for a break then continue up the infamous 28 bends to the peak and stop there for the night. However, we were told by a Danish couple that the next guesthouse was three and a half hours away. The Naxi guesthouse looked good so we stayed here.

We got up at 9am the next day and were without doubt the last to leave. The 28 bends was supposed to take 2 hours so we set of for a long up hill walk. However, we got to the top in one hour fifteen. Not bad. After taking some photos we carried on to The Tea Horse (Or House or Hoyse depending on which sign you took notice of). After the 28 bends the rest of the route was either downhill or flat so we made good time. There were a few dodgy parts of the walk were we had a thin path with no railings and a 500 metre drop. I managed to avoid falling although I did come within inches of stepping on a snake!

Looking back down the gorge

After spending a leg zapping hour walking downhill we arrived at Tina's Guesthouse. This had been advertised all the way along the walk. However, when we got there it was a dead and uninviting place. We decided to carry on to Walnut Grove. We ended up staying at Sean's with just about every other hiker from the Gorge. We ended up staying up having drinks with an Australian couple we had met at Naxi's the previous night.

Looking back from part way up the 28 bends

More rice fields

Naxi Family Guesthouse

Our first view of the gorge

Our map

Rice fields at the start of the hike

Still further to walk

The gorge from the top of the 28 bends

The thinest part of the gorge.

The village where we spent the first night

View from the top of the 28 bends

Water